U.S. Senator Herb Kohl (D-Wis.), chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, today announced the introduction of a companion to S. 2125, the Preparing America's Seniors for the Digital Television Transition Act of 2007, in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The House version, introduced with the same title, is sponsored by Reps. Albert R. Wynn (D-Md.) and G. K. Butterfield (D-N.C.).

Kohl also lauded Monday's announcement by the National Association of Broadcasters that the broadcasting industry would be committing $697 million toward a DTV transition consumer education campaign, and welcomed a new advertisement campaign from the National Cable and Telecommunications Association that seeks to educate seniors about the DTV transition and government coupon program.

Additionally, Kohl welcomed an announcement from the Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) that, in conjunction with PBS, they will be dedicating over $50 million on consumer education targeted to over-the-air households.

"I commend the broadcasting and cable industries for committing significant resources to the DTV transition consumer education effort. As we discovered last month at our hearing, the government is ill-prepared to reach those that will be affected by the transition, particularly vulnerable populations such as older Americans," said Kohl. "This bicameral legislation will be especially useful in helping the government coordinate efforts with industry stakeholders."

This bicameral legislation would formalize a partnership between the FCC, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the Administration on Aging with specific reporting requirements.

The purpose of the partnership would be to coordinate with a diverse advisory board of stakeholders—representing broadcasters, aging advocates, disability groups, rural Americans, and state and local governments—to craft a national consumer education campaign targeting older individuals who depend on analog TV.

The legislation would establish a grant program to support nonprofits and state and local government agencies, such as area agencies on aging, as they help seniors and other vulnerable populations navigate the transition and the coupon program. The coupon program was created by NTIA to help subsidize the cost of a converter box for analog televisions.

The legislation also modifies the coupon program to ensure that households relying solely on over-the-air television sets are prioritized and that residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities are eligible to participate.

Additionally, the bill would set requirements for the broadcasting industry, electronic manufacturers, and electronic retailers which include mandatory public service announcements; placement of easily identifiable labels on coupon-eligible converter boxes; and the maintenance of toll-free phone lines to help individuals with converter box installation.

Finally, the legislation would set specific reporting requirements for both the NTIA and FCC in order to monitor the overall progress of the transition and the implementation of the coupon program.